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US president George W. Bush and French President Jacques Chirac had a phone call on Tuesday, the first of its kind between them since the two countries had been locked over the issue of Iraq more than two months ago.
The two heads of state "had a wide-ranging phone call" on issues of the Middle East and common interest, White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said at a press briefing.
Other than Iraq, Fleischer said the two presidents also "discussed the situation in Syria, and agreed that Syria should not harbor Iraqi leaders."
In their 20-minute talk, the spokesman said two leaders also discussed "the situation in the Middle East and the road map for peace." "Bush said he hoped to be able to release the road map soon," Fleischer added.
Fleischer also confirmed that Bush will go to Paris to take part in the G-8 meeting scheduled to be held in early June.
The phone call, initiated by Chirac, was seen as France's gesture to mend its ties with the United States, which have been soured since the Iraqi crisis broke out.
In Pairs, Chirac's spokeswoman Catherine Colonna said Chirac told Bush in the phone call that France is willing to take a "pragmatic approach" in the reconstruction of postwar Iraq.
They also discussed issues Iraq's administration, its oil resources, international sanctions still in place against Iraq, and plans for an interim government, Colonna said.
(Xinhua News Agency April 16, 2003)
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